Selection Criteria for WCBA

LISTEN TO AN ALUM'S EXPERIENCE

How do I know if WCBA is right for me?

We know it’s difficult to be at the beginning stage of your start-up. Whether you’re navigating coming out of a university or getting funding for the first time, we have seen the challenges you’re experiencing before and know how to help. 

WCBA is right for you if: 

  • You are a first time founder. 
  • You have a bioscience venture in one of the following fields: Biotechnology, Diagnostics, Medical Devices, Digital Health, Materials, Research Tools   
  • You are committed to starting a business. 
  • You live or work in the Westchester/New York City area or have an affiliation to Westchester County 

We welcome the following to apply: 

  • Any background 
  • Any level of experience with starting a business 
  • Any stage of startup 

View our FAQ for more information.

RSVP for one of our Info Sessions (offered July through October) listed on our Program Events Calendar.

ELIGIBILITY

Participants should live or work in the Westchester/New York City area, have an affiliation to Westchester County, and have a background or education in science or technology (i.e. earned an undergraduate or graduate degree in science or engineering within the past ten years). Co-applicants are welcome and encouraged. In addition, each participant or participating team must have a technology or innovation and be committed to starting and building a new venture. Technology innovations may fall in the areas of bioscience, biomedical engineering, health information management, medical care, medical devices, medical diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, personalized medicine, or other related disciplines intended to impact human health.

SELECTION CRITERIA

In our review of your application we will be looking for evidence of the following:

  • Commitment to pursuing entrepreneurship
  • Quality of innovative idea
  • Personal references
  • We are interested in personal attributes including
    • Resourcefulness, business judgment, and the ability to engage partners
    • Need for advanced business experience/training
    • Record of scientific publications or patents
    • Demonstration of written and oral communication skills
  • Former participation in business training programs a plus but not necessary
  • Personal references

GUIDE TO PROVIDING GOOD REFERENCES

As part of the application review process, WCBA asks for three references. Here are useful guidelines for selecting references and preparing your references for the phone call.

WHY DOES WCBA ASK FOR REFERENCES:

References provide important added perspective on an applicant – about your work, how you work, how you work with others

SELECTING YOUR REFERENCES:

DO select people who know you well in your academic or work setting
DO select people who have known you well for longer than 2 years
DO select people who are willing to speak on your behalf
DO NOT select family members
DO NOT select people who will have a hard time remembering who you are

ASKING FOR REFERENCES:

  • Call or Send an email to your prospective references to request that they serve as a reference for you. Provide information about WCBA and why you are applying to the program
  • Follow up with a phone call to review your work or invention you intend to focus on in WCBA, explain why you have chosen to apply to WCBA, explain why this program is important to you.
  • Confirm by email that your reference will be available for a 10-minute phone call at the request of WCBA following submission of your application.

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